Monday 5 January 2015 15:52, UK
The Chicago Blackhawks kicked off their defence of the Stanley Cup with a 6-4 victory over the Washington Capitals on the opening night of the NHL season.
Brandon Bollig and Alex Ovechkin traded goals before a Patrick Kane marker gave the Blackhawks a first-period lead.
Mikhail Grabovski evened things up but a powerplay goal from Brent Seabrook restored Chicago's advantage heading into the final 20 minutes.
Grabovski then completed his hat-trick to give the Caps the upper-hand but goals from Brandon Saad, Johnny Oduya and Marian Hossa sealed victory for the Blackhawks.
Montreal enforcer George Parros had to be carried from the ice as the Canadiens began their season with a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Parros was having his second fight of the evening with the Toronto's Colton Orr when he fell face first to the ice and had to be stretchered off in the second period.
James van Riemsdyk had given the Leafs a 1-0 lead on the powerplay but Lars Eller and Brendan Gallagher had Montreal 2-1 up at the period break.
Goals from Dion Phaneuf and Mason Raymond saw Toronto move into a 3-2 lead going into the third, while Tyler Bozak's shorthanded goal rendered Eller's second of the night a mere consolation.
